Description

Pleione formosana, the Peacock Orchid is a small delicate terrestrial orchid from the montane forest floors of Taiwan and the three provinces of mainland China that are to the immediate west and northwest of Taiwan: Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangxi. It has an elegant lilac-pink flower with a white tubular mouth that has an exotic white fringe and attractive yellow and brown markings within. The usually solitary flower appears in April and May followed by a single bright green leaf with pronounced pleating.

It is an extremely easy orchid to grow but requires a frost-free location so can only be grown outside in the most favoured parts of the UK. If you are lucky enough to live in such a location then a shady moist aspect with overhanging protection and a very free-draining substrate is an ideal microclimate for Pleione formosana.

Indoors it is a very tolerant plant and will overwinter well on a windowsill if kept dry during its dormancy. Pleione formosana makes an ideal houseplant, where its diminutive zen-like charms are readily appreciated.